To see the new strips...

The Northern Ireland international quit the Blades on Friday and is said to be on his way to Australia to join up with the Mariners.

Central Coast were chasing the star on a loan deal from Sheffield earlier this season under the partnership with the club set up by Blades chairman Kevin McCann.

But just last week the deal was said to have fallen through and Gillespie would not be released by the club.

However on Friday, Gillespie walked out of Sheffield United after a lengthy spell on the sidelines after falling out of favour with boss Kevin Blackwell.

And the local paper Sheffield Star reported he could be on his way Down Under to join the Mariners as a possible replacement for Mile Jedinak, now playing in Turkey..

The Mariners are set to unveil their new-look strip for the Asian Champions League - understood to be a radical new yellow and blue stripes - and a mystery signing set to join them for the campaign.

The rumour mill had tipped Phoenix star Adam Kwasnik for a return to the Mariners for the ACL.

But Gillespie, 33, could be the shock revelation at the press conference this morning.

A club statement hinted only: "Joining [skipper Alex] Wilkinson in the Mariners’ new alternate strip will be a potential new Mariners signing that may join the club for the AFC Champions League, which begins with a fixture against Korean FA Cup winners Pohang Steelers at Bluetongue Stadium on Wednesday, 11 March."

Gillespie made 62 starts for Sheffield for four goals in a total of 97 appearances before he and the club mutually terminated his contract last week.

He is an English Premier League veteran with stints at Manchester United, Wigan Athletic, Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City.

He fell out of favour at the Blades but was determined to find a club to ensure he can add to his 80+ caps for Northern Ireland.

To see the new strips...